Brown, 30, had 1,297 yards and 104 receptions, while leading the league with 15 touchdowns in 15 starts in 2018. He also made his seventh Pro Bowl, but snapped a streak of four consecutive All-Pro nods.

He is under contract through the 2021 season. Trading Brown would cost the Steelers $20.2 million against the 2019 salary cap. Some of that cost would be negated by a $14.5 million cap credit the team receives from Le'Veon Bell's holdout. League sources told ESPN that the team is expected to restructure and extend quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's contract, which would also create more cap room if the team decides to trade Brown.